Tjdehya

The greatest benefit to headers and exhaust is the sound.

If I remember correctly adding a CAI will gain 0-2 hp. The air box on our cars are already pretty good, again the only real gain will be the sound. (If you are not into the whole quite luxury car thing)

hyperion667

try sprint booster yet? I never have but I've heard they're good and making the car respond faster......
also, if more power is needed try and AMG- not trying to be funny.....AMG will
blow you away! the good deals are out there! good luck OP

usamuscle

once again just not worth doing anything.
Would someone really tear the motor of their E350 for cams ? lol not even close.
Spin booster ? lol Cmon guys lets be real . He wants to feel SOTP and anything is out of this world expensive and not just worth it.

AudiA4Turbo22

I don't know where you do your shopping, Renntech perhaps?

cams - $2,500 parts/$3,000 installed
headers- $1,300 parts/$1,600 installed
exhaust - $1,000 for custom one through Fast Intentions
Tune - $500 through OE Tuning

total: $6,100 installed making at least 80 more horsepower.

Vs. Trading your car in, taking a huge hit + putting down another 10k for a used E63 not to mention the higher payments, absurd cost of maintenance, lower fuel economy, and double cost of insurance?

6100 doesn't seem so bad now, does it?

AudiA4Turbo22

I chose my E550 over a used ML63 for a reason, sure both were the same price, but the extended warranty on the ML63 alone was $6,700 vs. $4,000 for the E550 and I'm covered till 135k through mercedes.
I pay $605 every 6 months for insurance on my E550 full coverage through State Farm. The ML63 would be $959/6 months for the same coverage and it was a year older.

if you wander over to the w164 forums a few members traded their ML63's in for ML550's because it was a more practical choice. The same applies here, would I go nuts and do all this work to my E550? No, because I didn't buy it to be my weekend driver, I daily it, I would do a tune which I plan on doing this coming month, but that's about it. I don't feel like it needs power. My 98 Dodge Ram on the other hand, 230hp is nowhere near enough, that I'd consider doing this stuff to.

benhays98

What shop is doing your installs? $800 to install headers and cams is definitely a great price!

E Classy

i think the small things add up enough to justify getting them done. you will feel the extra power, albeit small. just keep it simple. more airflow with a tune to compensate, and maybe lighter wheels if you can find a used set in good shape. maybe go down in wheel size and fit some beefy tires on there for extra grip

i wouldn't go nuts - but the slight increase in throttle response, less unsprung weight, and tweaked power curve would be nicer than dropping a wad of cash on a new car or altering engine components that make way too much noise for the public roads.

RobbieRob

$6100 for only 80hp?? Yeah, I'm good. Leave it alone for a reliable daily driver and with the $6100 go buy a used GSXR-1000 to go fast on..lol

FastE

This is funny! I bet there are a few people that have done this mod!

FastE

Thanks for synopsys! I suspect some of those figures are a bit low though - no one I know will do a custom exhaust for $1000.

RennTech ECU is another option.

I have 17" winter rims and rubber on the car now. I elected to keep the stock 18's for the summer. When I switch back I need to find new rubber. Trying to decide if I can play at all with the OEM specs at all given it is 4Matic.

Another point I will throw in there for everyone - is that I live in a cold part of Canada, and need the 4Matic. Until recently this was not available in the 63 - which is great for '14 models - but it also means it is out of my budget. At least out of my budget from my wife's perspective

usamuscle

Those are great prices. Agreed

Bigglen1

When I want more HP, I simply do an introduction: "Mr. Pedal meet Mr. Metal!"

ngerstman

I own a 2001 e55 that I did a full Kleeman mod to, headers, compressor, ecu. lsd, etc. Picked up 150-175 hp. I love the drivetrain on my 2011 e550. I have every now and then been temped to do some kind of power mod and then quickly think better of it. When you step on it, it goes good enough. I don't want to deal with any after market issues that could affect my warranty, relialility or resale. I've been there and done that, so I'm not one to talk. But take a good long breath before you go down that road and all the headaches that could result. Regards. Ned.

usamuscle

Great points.
Also I would suspect most of that 150-175 hp you picked up was due to the super charger right?

ngerstman

A decent chunk was due to the compressor. They added the compressor to the stock e55 in 2003, really pissed me off at the time! I did the Kleeman mods in 2006. The install from a shop on Long Island was a total disaster. I finally bit the bullet and shipped the car to Kleeman in Colorado Springs last summer to correct everything. It runs great now, the car only has 60,000 miles. Regards. Ned.

FastE

Funny... I do that often. Hence my next post which will be to discuss the best possible tires to put on the 4Matic that I have. I burned through a lot of tire this summer. I need to stickiness, and trying to decide how much meat I can add. Would like more on the rear, but don't want to offset on the 4Matic. So how much more!!??? Stay with 245 or go 255??

Bigglen1

255's in front might slow steering a little or make it feel heavy. Just throwing it our there. I wonder if you keep the 245 size in front and put 255's on back if it will work just fine?
I love the fact that the RWD's have meaty 265's in back!

AudiA4Turbo22

Headers bolt on and any competent exhaust shop can do it.

Cams are quite easy to install, engine doesn't have to be dropped or anything.

AudiA4Turbo22

What kills the price for a custom exhaust is the polishing. People feel compelled to get polished stainless steel exhaust pipes for their car. First of all, polishing something that is UNDERNEATH your car and you will almost never see is a waste of money and labor. Second, getting a non-polished stainless steel exhaust is not going to rust faster or corrode, it's still stainless steel, it just looks less like chrome. That saves a ton BTW.

AudiA4Turbo22

Do NOT change your tire size you will regret it.

245 sized tires are plenty wide, a better option is for you to buy better tires.

The stock continentals are garbage^2. Get yourself some Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tires and good luck getting them to break loose, you're going to need it.

FastE

This is the type of opinion I seek. More comments are welcome! Up in Canada I don't get the continentals. I don't recall what are on my summer rims (in storage) but they suck.

AudiA4Turbo22

The wider you go, the more the car will break loose when the roads are wet. Sounds ridiculous, but it's true. Car becomes twitchy in wet weather with super wide tires. Also, your fuel economy will tank, because much more mass to spin and more ground patch to be effected.

FastE

It is s similar reason to what I did for winter tires. I had pondered using my stock 18" rims for winter and going 19" in the summer. But - that does not help anything other than reducing performance and changing the appearance. Instead I kept the stock AMG rims for summer, and bought some 17" rims for the winter.

Fuel Economy.... Not a priority. This car is an absolute PIG in pure city driving - especially the way I drive - which is "spirited" . Highway fuel consumption is actually pretty good though.

Bigglen1

[/QUOTE]Exactly what I did. I use the OEM AMG 18's for three seasons and have a set of old OEM 17's with sport snow tires for the winter months. Incidently, my snows are 225 width. The narrower tires are preferred in messy conditions, especially snow.

ngerstman

Ditto here. I bought my e550 in December of 2010 and in February I was about a quarter mile from the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel heading into NYC on a cold rainy night when I hit a large pothole. Got a double blowout on the drivers side!! Immediately bought a set of 17 inch rims with all weather winter tires. Defence against crappy NJ roads. No problems since. Regards. Ned.